Neighbors upset over building

Request for change brings out opposition.

Request for change brings out opposition.

A request for permis- sion to use an office as a store brought out neighbors unhappy with the entire building at a Board of Zoning Appeals meeting Feb.14.

Board members voted to send the request for permission to move The Ballet Store to 3310 Hickory Road to the Mishawaka Common Council without a recommendation.

The council is scheduled to vote on it during its meeting that begins at 7 p.m.today.

City Planner Ken Prince asked neighbors and owners of the building, which includes another retail store and offices,to meet with City Hall staff and see if they could work out problems.

John Condon,who lives behind the building, said he now regrets not opposing the special-use permit to allow another retail business to move into the building.

He claimed employees of that business are doing work in the parking lot and letting trash left from that work blow about.

Condon and other neighbors also claimed that while other office and commercial buildings in the neighborhood are nice looking,the one at 3310 Hickory Road is an eyesore.

They also claimed roof air conditioners on the building make a lot of noise.

The neighbors also were concerned about tentative plans of Superior Properties to add another building north of the one that is already there.

Condon asked that the owner be required to screen the building from homes with 10-foot-tall evergreens instead of just the six-foot fence now required by the city.

In other business, BZA members recommended that the Common Council give Tom Rigg, owner of RiggÂ?s Mowers and More at 825 Meijer Drive, permission to install one 300-gallon tank for gasoline and another for waste oil.

They also gave the necessary permission for a retaining wall Marvin Ward already had built at 2119 and 2127 Foxboro Court.